What is New Jersey’s Complex Business Litigation Program?

In 2015, the state of New Jersey launched a program to address and manage complicated business litigation. Cases eligible for the Complex Business Litigation Program, or CBLP, are presided over by a group of dedicated judges, one judge for each jurisdiction in the state. The program helps business owners by providing them with a judge experienced in business litigation instead of a random judge who may not have much experience.

Not all business litigation cases qualify for the CBLP. Examples of inappropriate cases include:

Corporate governance disputes

Shareholder lawsuits

Business receivership cases

Labor organization suits

And issues involving customers or consumers

The key issue that makes a business litigation case eligible for the CBLP is its level of complexity. If your case is more complicated than most, it may qualify for the program. Examples of possibly eligible cases include:

Cases in which at least $200,000 is at stake

Intellectual property disputes

Non-consumer Uniform Commercial Code transactions

Disputes based on unfair competition

Many business torts and contract disputes

Imposing equitable liens to address damages

Establishing constructive trusts

The judges who preside over these cases receive specialized training in complicated business matters to complement their existing experience. The program is designed to expedite business litigation, which benefits business owners.

Do you qualify for the CBLP? This question cannot be answered properly in a blog post. However, it is something you may wish to address with an attorney if you are anticipating or already involved in business litigation. Together, you and your lawyer can go over the details of your case to determine if the program is right for you. If it is, your attorney can help you move forward. If not, he or she can help you identify other effective solutions.